YOU have questions. farmers have answers.

That’s a bunk silo, holding silage, which is stored feed for cows. Farmers harvest crops like corn or hay and store them in a way that allows them to ferment, which preserves the feed and makes it more digestible for animals. The plastic keeps air out so the feed doesn’t spoil, and the tires help hold everything tightly in place.

It might look unusual from the outside, but this is a carefully managed system that helps farmers reduce waste and ensure a steady, high-quality food source for their animals year-round. It’s an efficient way to make the most of what’s grown during the season.

Fields go through different stages throughout the year depending on crop rotation, soil conditions, and the growing season. Sometimes a field may look bare because it’s been recently harvested or is being prepared for the next crop.

In many cases, farmers plant cover crops to protect the soil between growing seasons. These crops help reduce erosion, hold nutrients in place, and improve soil health. Even when a field looks quiet, there’s a plan in place to protect and improve the land over time.

Manure injection is a method of placing manure directly into the soil rather than spreading it on the surface. This helps keep nutrients where crops can use them and reduces the risk of runoff into nearby waterways.

It also helps reduce odor, which is often appreciated by neighbors. Farmers invest in this kind of equipment and practice because it improves efficiency and supports water quality, while still using manure as a valuable natural fertilizer.

Manure is a natural source of nutrients that crops need to grow. Farmers carefully manage how and when it’s applied based on soil tests, crop needs, and nutrient management plans.

There’s a lot of thought behind these decisions—timing, weather, soil conditions, and field location all play a role. The goal is to use manure responsibly, supporting crop growth while protecting soil health and water quality.

Farmers make decisions about housing based on what’s best for the animals’ health, comfort, and safety. In some cases, cows are outside when weather and conditions allow. In other cases, they’re housed indoors where farmers can better manage feed, shelter, and care.

Indoor housing often provides protection from extreme weather and allows for close monitoring of animal health. Whether inside or outside, farmers are focused on keeping their animals well cared for every day.

Farming is closely tied to weather and timing. There are often short windows when conditions are just right for planting, harvesting, or applying nutrients. When those windows open, farmers need to act quickly, which can mean long days.

It’s not about convenience, it’s about doing the work at the right time to protect crops, soil, and water quality. Farmers are aware of their neighbors and do their best to balance those needs with the realities of the job.

Those areas are called buffer strips or riparian buffers. They are intentionally planted to help protect streams, rivers, and lakes.

These strips slow down water runoff, trap soil and nutrients, and help prevent erosion. They’re an important conservation practice that many farmers use to protect water quality while continuing to farm nearby land.

Cover crops are planted between main crops, not for harvest, but to protect and improve the soil. They help hold the soil in place, reduce erosion, and keep nutrients from leaving the field.

Over time, cover crops can improve soil structure, increase organic matter, and make fields more resilient to weather. They’re an investment in the long-term health of the land.

Tillage is one tool farmers use to prepare fields, manage weeds, and incorporate nutrients. Some farms rely on it more than others, depending on their crops and soil conditions.

At the same time, many farmers are reducing tillage or using no-till systems to improve soil health and reduce erosion. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach—farmers are constantly balancing what works best for their land and operation.

Protecting water quality is a major focus for farmers. Many use a combination of practices like cover cropping, manure injection, buffer strips, and careful nutrient management.

These decisions are often guided by soil testing, technical assistance, and conservation programs. It’s ongoing work, and many farmers are continuing to adapt and improve their practices over time.

Farming involves natural processes like manure management and feed storage, which can create odors. Farmers are aware of this and work to manage it as best as possible through timing, application methods, and new technologies.

That said, some level of odor is part of working with natural systems. Farmers do their best to balance these realities with being good neighbors.

Yes. In Vermont, farmers follow the Required Agricultural Practices (RAPs), which are state regulations designed to protect water quality while supporting working farms. These standards cover things like manure management, field practices, buffers along waterways, and farm infrastructure.

Farmers work closely with agencies and technical assistance providers to meet these requirements, and many go beyond them by adopting additional conservation practices. Protecting water quality is an ongoing effort, and farmers are continually learning, adapting, and improving how they manage their land.